Davy ‘unfairly targeted’ by refs
Two days out from their Munster SH semi-final against Limerick, the Ballysaggart man believes recent controversial decisions in Waterford games, particularly in the Allianz Division 1 and last week’s U21 Munster quarter-final, led him to believe some match officials have it in for Waterford.
The Clare native had a three-month ban reduced to four weeks for verbally abusing referee James Owens in March’s league game against Tipperary in Thurles.
Bennett was furious Fitzgerald eventually had to accept the charge because “he had done nothing wrong”.
But as the Déise open up their defence of the Munster SHC in Semple Stadium, he is worried Waterford could suffer even more.
“I’ve been watching Davy the last two years and there’s this notion about him that he’s still as a fiery individual as he was as a player,” said Bennett.
“He's only as passionate as some of the rest of the managers.
“I’ve seen an awful lot more managers so much worse throughout this season and yet he’s been the one guy that has been targeted.
“When we played that game against Tipp in the league, we had two guys sent off and he didn’t question either of the decisions.
“The only thing he queried was the yellow card for Seamus Prendergast that happened in front of him and he amazingly gets suspended for it, for something he never said or did.
“It’s hard for me to be silent on it because I’ve seen the guy improve so much on the line. That’s the baffling thing for me because refs do seem to be going at us especially in the bigger games.
“Playing the likes of Kilkenny in the league, there was a square ball call that went against us. We always seem to be on the wrong side of it.”
On Sunday, Fitzgerald crosses paths with referee Barry Kelly for the first time since the Waterford boss criticised his refereeing followingWaterford’s 2009 All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Kilkenny.
Bennett doesn’t hide the fact that there is previous between the pair.
“Everybody knows Davy has history with Barry Kelly since 2009,” he acknowledged. “You’re worried about what might happen but all you want is fair play.
“Of course, refs are going to make mistakes and we all know. Don’tplayers make them too but you want a fair deal with referees because you can’t question them.
“If they make a decision and it’s wrong we have to accept it. We can’t challenge or talk about it. If you’re a manager, you’re suspended and that’s end of story.”
Bennett fears Fitzgerald is now walking a tightrope for taking the suspension earlier in the year on the chin and as a result the management is on tenterhooks.
“If he opens his mouth now he’s looking at suspension being doubled. His initial suspension was three months, which was crazy.
“For what was supposed to have been said and done, I’ve seen and heard a lot worse and yet nothing has come of it.
“If anything happens on the sideline now, he’s in trouble. We’re training four or five times a week and all we want is fair play.
“You feel as management we’re having to watch our step the whole time. You’re looking at being fined or this or that.
“There’s this pressure from the officials and there’s no point in us denying it’s not there.
“The last thing you need is to try and keep this officials right and keep everyone happy. It’s an added pressure that you don’t need and we can go without.”
Bennett insists last week’s controversial U21 defeat by Tipperary was a further example of how refereeing decisions are going against Waterford.
“It isn’t just one or two decisions that are going against us.
“When you have Tipperary people coming up to you after the game and saying that ‘we’re taking the win and ye know how we felt two years ago but ye were hard done by’.
“At least three (Tipp) guys came up to us and said they were almost embarrassed to take the win.
“All the decisions seem to be going against us and a lot of it seems to be going against Davy and working its way down through the teams.”
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